MLB Commissioner on DH in NL: 'Never Say Never'

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig did not say “no” when the topic of whether the designated hitter would come to the National League came up in a recent discussion.

“I’m the only one left who voted in 1972 for the designated hitter,” Selig said, according to MLB.com. “So here we are now, 41 years later. And I often worry about that. But my friend [Phillies chairman] Bill Giles once said to me, ‘You know, I like the controversy between the leagues. I think it’s good.'”

He continued:

Having said that, I did say three or four years ago that I had strong feelings on [expanded] instant replay. And, like everything else in life, you make adjustments and I now have somewhat different feelings. So I’m never going to say never to anything. But at the moment is there anything going on? No. If somebody has something to say, I’m glad to listen.

Baseball purists believe Major League Baseball should abolish the designated hitter or keep things the same, which differentiates the National League from the American League. Proponents of the DH in the National League, though, have called on Selig to institute it in the National League because it would provide more roster spots and prevent American League pitchers from getting injured because interleague games are played every day.